2010-05-13
The Legendary Shack Shakers rip through this 16 track set with the urgency of a man on the gallows with a lot still left to say as the floor falls away. While things lighten up a bit on the banjo fueled "Sugar Baby" and "Two Tickets to Hell" as well as on the aptly named "Dump Road Yodel" and the jug band/vaudeville evoking "Hoboes are my Heroes", for the most part these tracks rock hard with clanging hammers, chains, tongs and anvils providing extra percussive effects and chilling lyrics about big name politicians and “Mal Wart”, "Dixie Iron Fist", nighttime murders, "Greasy Creek", laws as sinister as the feared night riders, "Nightride", losing the righteous battle, "The Lost Cause" and the graphic violence of "The Hills of Hell" where whores are crucified and the family dog carries around your severed hand. Even when the lyrics aren’t chilling, the music and vocals are: "Hog-Eyed Man" and "Sin Eater" move at break neck speed with vocalist J.D White sounding as if he’s getting choked by the noose while trying to get his message out to the masses. Avoid while caffeinated. SmittyPeter Himmelman
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